China 1860-1912 Paper 3

Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864)

Most severe of anti-Manchu rebellions, based on distorted view of Christianity Causes: Population increase high rents and taxes, migrants forced to fight for land Debasement of copper coinage, shortage of silver, lower prices for agricultural produce and higher taxes for land squeeze pesants Natural disasters: drought in Honan 1847, flooding of Yangtzi 1849 Defeat of Manchus in the Opium war reduced prestige, legitamecy of an alien government was put in question Main Characteristics: Hong Xiuquan, charismatic leader, thought he was the second son of God Messianic strength which won many converts Highly religious Events/ Reasons for Failure: Taiping forces split (1852) and ignored the invitation from the Short Swords in Shanghai to unite and thus, lost the opportunity to take Shanghai Failure to support the Northern Expedition (1852) with sufficient force Shanghai would have provided links with Western powers as they were only interested in trade When captured Nanjing, did not deal with two imperial armies North and South of the city (failure of leadership) Inconsistency in Taiping life- notably concubine amongst the leaders, did not practice what they preached, undermined what they preached Formation of modern armies by Zeng Guofeng and his protg Li Hongzhang Intervention of foreign powers Frederick Bruce, British envoy, supported prince Gong and opposed the Taipings British government supports the Manchus British sponsored force (1861 Ever-Victorious Army) and a French army protected Shanghai 1864, Nanjing finally taken after a long siege by Zeng Guofang Distorted Christianity and and bad treatment did not appeal to the west Suppression of Opium by the Taipings antagonized the western powers Consequences/Significance: Resillience of traditional society- ill coordinated, inactive and corrupt Constant civil warfare caused around 20 million deaths Gave birth to the Qing restoration Self strengthening Viewed by communist historians as the first ever pesant rebellion

The Nian Rebellion (1851-1868)

Supported by the minority Had support of some government officials Rebellion trigerred by flooding of the Yangtze river and the Taiping rebellion Aim- to rescue the impoverished, eliminate treachery, punish wrong doing, and appease the public indignation)

China 1860-1912 Paper 3 Defeat came at the hands of Zeng Guofeng and Li Hongzhang who had used their new effective army purely Han army could succeed

Challenge of Christian Missions and Chinese reactions

Tang Liangli- no group of foreigners have done greater damage to china, than foreign missionaries Unequal treaties- reside and establish churches in the treaty ports, preach anywhere in the empire and Chinese subjects were given the right to Christianity Missionaries became involved in philanthropic, medical and educational activities training of Chinese doctors in Western medicine 1906, 250 mission hospitals, 1899- 1766 protestant schools Taiping version of Christianity left a legacy of hatred against Christianity Gentry- the main opponents to Christian missionaries- they posed threat to their cultural hegemony and challenged their role in the political, economic and legal structures of rural society Missionaries challenged the gentrys views on literature, health care, charitable activities, litigation Gentry circulated anti-Christian literature, fueled hostility Anti missionaries incidents: 1. 1862: Catholic orphanage and church destroyed 2. 1868: missions buildings robbed, missionaries treated roughly 3. British government forced officials dismissed 4. 1870: A crowd, incensed by rumors of kidnapping and malpractice in an orphanage attacked the Catholic mission in Tianjin, 19 foreigners killed exile of officials as punishment These incident further undermined the chinese government 1890s anti-missionary activity becomes involved with anti-foreigner feelings (Boxer uprising) Self-strengthening Movement + Tongzhi/ Qing restoration Self strengthening three aims: military modernization, industrial expansion and diplomatic equality Military: to learn the superior techniques of the barbarians to control the barbarians Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang were front line generals but their successes helped them to expand their influence on the government Hunan and Huai army Han army, based on strict disciple, soldiers from solid peasant stock, officers from Han Confucian aristocracy, western training, strong personal loyalties Military applied use of modern rifles, cannons, machinery purchase from the west Most effecting in helping rebellions after Taiping, no match for the west Elleman: delayed the decline of the dynasty by the Han army succeeding Industrial Enterprises: Arsenals, foundries, ironworks, coal mines, dockyards, steamship companies, textile mills

China 1860-1912 Paper 3 Give China the productive capacity to equip a modernized army and navy Guandu-Shangbang principle- government suprivision and merchant management Inexperience, failure to invite foreign investment, bad government intervention Diplomatic Self-Strengthening: Zongli Yamen prototype of foreign office Tong Wen Guan (language school) and education Need for treating foreign powers as equals and for policy of conciliation rather than confrontation with superior armed forces Limited by the vulnerability of prince Gong to Cixi, side lined by the effective foreign minister Li Hongzhang